Our Hope in Heaven

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Devotion:

            The older I get the sicker I become. This is true of my friends as well. Time is not kind to our bodies. No matter how well we take care of them they just seem to wear out. We waste away as Paul puts it in the scripture above. I hope that I am not sounding overly pessimistic here. However, it is a simple fact of biology that no one lives forever. Even my 102-year-old aunt who it seemed might live forever. Is at last succumbing to the deterioration of her body.

            But Paul points out in this passage that our inward being is being renewed day by day. We have a treasure unfading in heaven where time cannot diminish or tarnish it. No matter what aches and pains we may suffer in this world in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection we will be brought to eternal life with him in heaven. We are, according to Paul, to consider what we suffer in this life as “a light momentary affliction.” Our bodies may wear out, but our souls are being prepared for eternity in heaven with Jesus.

            We were originally made to live and flourish in this world. Our bodies were not meant to decay or die. God gave us just one rule in the garden of Eden and we (under the influence of Satan) broke it. Thus, we were cast out of paradise and became the mere mortals we are today. But that is not the end of the story. In another garden many millennia later a solitary figure knelt and prayed on behalf of the whole human race. He prayed that not his will, but God’s be done. He knew the anguish he would suffer, but he did it anyway. So, he was executed, but God raised him up after three days to eternal glory. One day those who trust in him will see him alive in paradise.

            Scriptures tell us that we cannot conceive of what God has prepared for us in heaven. We are told that we will never die again. Every tear will be wiped away and we will worship the one who has accomplished this great salvation for us. Let us begin our praise right now:

Prayer:

            Lord, our bodies distress us more and more each day. Yet we cling to the promise of a new resurrected body that cannot diminish with time. Thank you for sending your son Jesus to bear our sins on the cross. We know that he suffered greatly because we have sinned greatly. Help our voices to be strong and loud declaring our praises for Jesus the one who rescued us. We bless your holy name as we make our way as poor pilgrims to the celestial city where we will enjoy eternity in Your presence. Amen.